Conflicting info from EDD about pregnancy disability eligibility at 18 weeks - can I qualify for SDI with complications?

I went through something similar last year! You absolutely CAN get disability for pregnancy complications before the standard 4-weeks-before-due-date period. The second rep you talked to was confusing regular pregnancy disability with disability due to complications. If your doctor has certified that you cannot work due to pregnancy complications, you 100% qualify regardless of how many weeks along you are. It sounds like your first rep was correct, and they are processing your claim normally. One thing to note - sometimes the reps don't know the full policies around pregnancy complications. I got approved at 16 weeks for severe hyperemesis too, but only after my doctor submitted additional documentation specifying why I couldn't work. Make sure your doctor was specific about your complications on the DE 2501 form.

the second rep doesnt know what shes talking about. i got disability at 15 weeks when i was pregnant last year cuz i had preeclampsia. if ur doctor says u cant work bcuz of complications EDD has to approve it thats literally the law

You are 100% eligible for SDI benefits due to pregnancy complications at any point in your pregnancy. The standard 4-week pre-delivery period is for normal pregnancies without complications. Unfortunately, some EDD representatives are not fully trained on all the nuances of disability insurance regulations, especially regarding pregnancy complications. The California Code of Regulations specifically states that disability benefits are available whenever a medical provider certifies that you cannot perform your regular or customary work due to a medical condition - which includes pregnancy complications regardless of gestation week. Your first representative was correct. Since your claim is already in the system and they mentioned they're calculating your wages, it sounds like your claim is being processed normally. The second representative was providing incorrect information. If you're concerned, ask your doctor to ensure they clearly documented on your DE 2501 form that you're disabled due to pregnancy complications (hyperemesis gravidarum and threatened miscarriage) rather than just regular pregnancy. This distinction matters in how your claim is processed.

I've been trying to call EDD for THREE DAYS to get my pregnancy disability question answered and I CANT GET THROUGH TO ANYONE!!!! Always a recording saying "high call volume" and then it disconnects me!! HOW did you manage to talk to a real person TWICE?? I'm 22 weeks pregnant with gestational diabetes and need to file ASAP!!

I think you should stop calling honestly. Every time you call you might get a different answer and it'll just make you more stressed. Your claim is already submitted, your doctor did the certification, and the first rep said they're calculating wages which means it's being processed. Just wait for the determination letter. You'll drive yourself crazy otherwise. My sister had hyperemesis too and got SDI at 14 weeks, so it's definitely possible. But she said calling multiple times just confused things.

I'm a medical biller at an OB office, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that pregnancy disability benefits can begin at ANY point in pregnancy when there are complications that prevent you from working. The standard 4-week pre-delivery period only applies to normal pregnancies. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a well-recognized complication that frequently qualifies patients for SDI early in pregnancy. Make sure your doctor used the specific ICD-10 codes for hyperemesis gravidarum (O21.0, O21.1, or O21.9) and threatened miscarriage (O20.0) on your medical certification form. Based on what you've described, it sounds like your claim is processing normally. The second representative likely made an error. Since the first rep mentioned they were calculating your benefit amount, that indicates your claim has already passed the medical qualification review. You should receive your first payment within approximately 2 weeks of filing if everything was submitted correctly, though sometimes it can take up to 3 weeks during busy periods.

i had a different problem but i swear EDD reps just make stuff up sometimes... i was on maternity disability last year and every time i called i got TOTALLY different answers about the same question!! its like none of them have the same training or somethin

Update: Just wanted to share that I got my award letter today! First payment should be deposited next week. So for anyone else dealing with pregnancy complications, YES you can get SDI before the standard 4 weeks before delivery. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance!

Congratulations on getting your award letter! This is such a helpful update for other people going through similar situations. Your experience really highlights how important it is to trust the process when you have proper medical documentation, even when you get conflicting information from different representatives. I'm sure this post will help other pregnant women who are dealing with complications and wondering if they qualify for SDI benefits early in their pregnancy.